EMI Accused Of Radiohead 'Retribution'

Radiohead’s former label EMI has been accused of an act of “retribution” in releasing the boxset of their previous seven albums (six studio and one live) in time for Christmas.

An anonymous tipper on the website Boing Boing, claims that the band had absolutely nothing to do with the release of the package – in fact, they were “appalled” at the idea.

It reads: 

“I think people need to know that the band isn’t some greed machine. I can tell you with 100% certainty that EMI is putting out all those reissues without the band’s participation, blessing, permission or involvement at all. They are doing it as retribution for the band’s decision not to go with them in releasing the new album. Despite their contract being expired, EMI had been counting on the revenue from the forthcoming album. When the band put out the digital version of the album themselves, EMI threatened them with re-releasing their entire catalog on the same day the discbox of IN RAINBOWS was being sent out, Dec 10, unless the band gave EMI the standard physical release of the album. Of course the band/managers told EMI to piss off and were appalled that at such an important point in the band’s career that their former partners would do this to them.”

EMI are charging £39.99 for the boxset and a massive £79.99 for a USB stick of the albums – a price that many Radiohead fans have labelled as insulting.